The first phase of the 220 kV Kien Binh-Phu Quoc cross-sea power line, the longest in Southeast Asia at 80.4 kilometers, was connected to the grid Friday.
The EVN Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) began construction of the VND2,221 billion ($92 million) line in March 2019 and completed it on October 5.
The power line has 169 pillars, including 117 ones across a sea length of 64.7 kilometers.
The line will increase electricity provision by five times for Phu Quoc Island and reduce the load on the 110 kV Ha Tien-Phu Quoc underwater cable, Nguyen Phuoc Duc, CEO of EVNSPC, said at the launching ceremony.
As a major tourism destination in Vietnam, power consumption in Phu Quoc has increased 35% annually since 2014, when the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc underwater cable was put into use. The new line is expected to fulfil power demand on the island until 2035.
In the next phase, EVN SPC will build supporting facilities for the grid, including a 110 kV Phu Quoc-South Phu Quoc line, a 110 kV Phu Quoc-North Phu Quoc line and a 110 kV North Phu Quoc substation.
In the first nine months of this year, Phu Quoc welcomed four million visitors, up 154% year-on-year, according to Kien Giang province’s tourism department. The island, a district in Kien Giang, earned tourism revenues of VND5,136 billion ($212.8 million), up 61.8% year-on-year, fulfilling 76% of the year’s target.